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About this blog: I am a perpetually hungry twenty-something journalist, born and raised in Menlo Park and currently working at the Palo Alto Weekly as education and youth staff writer. I graduated from USC with a major in Spanish and a minor in jo... (More)

About this blog: I am a perpetually hungry twenty-something journalist, born and raised in Menlo Park and currently working at the Palo Alto Weekly as education and youth staff writer. I graduated from USC with a major in Spanish and a minor in journalism. Though my first love is journalism, food is a close second. I am constantly on the lookout for new restaurants to try, building an ever-expanding "to eat" list. As a journalist, I'm always trolling news sources and social media websites with an eye for local food news, from restaurant openings and closings to emerging food trends. When I was a teenager growing up in Menlo Park, I always drove up to the city on weekends with the singular purpose of finding a better meal than I could at home. But in the past year or so, the Peninsula's food culture has been totally transformed, with many new restaurants opening and a continuous stream of San Francisco restaurants coming south to open Peninsula outposts. Don't navigate this food boom hungry and alone! Feed me your tips on new chefs and eats and together we'll share them with the broader community. (Hide)

Zareen's, Pakistani restaurant, to open in Palo Alto

Zareen's, a contemporary Pakistani and Indian restaurant in Mountain View, will soon open a second location on California Avenue in Palo Alto, owner-namesake Zareen Khan confirmed.

Khan will open the new location at 365 California Ave., most recently the home of fast-casual chain Pizza Studio. Pizza Studio suddenly closed in January after about 15 months of operation.

Khan, who grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, decided to open another Zareen's not only because the very busy Mountain View restaurant is tiny — it seats only 15 inside — but also because it could be forced to close if the City of Mountain View approves LinkedIn's plans to build a massive 10-building campus at the Plymouth Drive site and surrounding area. Khan an wrote in an email that it's unclear when that might happen but that she "believe(s) they plan to tear down as soon as the city approves their plans for development there."

Zareen's serves traditional as well as more fusion-style Pakistani and Indian food, from samosas and kebabs to a Punjabi chicken burger with spicy fries. The Palo Alto restaurant will serve the same food, but more kitchen space will allow Khan to add more items to the menu, she said. View the existing menu here.

So glad they're opening a larger restaurant. Their food is wonderful and the employees are welcoming and friendly as soon as you enter their current, tiny restaurant. What a great addition to California Avenue!

Posted by Chrisc,
a resident of College Terrace,
on Jul 9, 2016 at 11:28 pm

I ate Friday at Zareens, and was so excited to hear they would open on Cal Ave, blocks from my place. Their food is delicious. In my opinion. Palo Alto lacked really flavorful Induan food. They do have Nihari, @Saleha.

Posted by Woodsidian,
a resident of Woodside,
on Dec 25, 2016 at 5:48 pm

We've eaten there a couple of times, food is great, ambiance & service excellent, plus each dish is specially prepared unlike most desi places where the same base curry is used for most dishes (have eaten at most Desi restaurants in South Bay and SF), highly reccomeded!!